Pocket-knife



(No Model.)

, J.BALL.

POCKET KNIFE. No. 587,692. Patented Aug. 10,1897;

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9 M z abbomu UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE. I

.IOHh BALL, OF JEANESVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

POCKET-KNIFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 587,692, dated August 10, 1897.

Application filed May 6, 1897 Serial No. 635,341. (No model.)

To all whom it nuty cancer/t.-

Be it known that I, JOHN BALL, of Jeanesville, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pocket-Knives; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

This invention relates to pocket-knives, the objectin view being to provide a folding knife embodying a handle and one or more blades pivotally mounted therein and adapted to fold within the plane of the handle.

The primary object ofthe present invention is to do away with the ordinary back spring and auxiliary springs for facilitating the opening and closing of the blades and forholding the blades in their opened position and to pivotally mount the covers of the handle and so connect them with the blades that when the covers are swung or vibrated around a pivot which passes through the bolsters at one end of the handle they will take up and impart a similar motion to the blades, thereby throw ing the blades outward into their operative positions and holding the same in such positions.

It is also the object of this invention to provide means whereby the covers are bolted to the central portion of the handle and whereby also the bolts which lock the covers in place are in turn locked and prevented from being accidentally reciprocated for releasing the covers and consequently releasing the blades. By the improved construction the blades are held positively locked in both their closed and opened positions.

The invention consists in a folding knife embodying certain novel features and details of construction and relative disposition of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a knife constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing one blade open and another blade closed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the knife. Fig. 3 is a broken side elevation of the knife, showing the disk for engaging and lock- Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of ing the bolt.

the blades. Fig. 5 is a similar View of the center piece or central scale. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the inner surface of one of the side scales and covers.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views.

For the purpose of illustrating the present invention I have shown a knife comprising two blades, although it will be apparent as the description proceeds" that the number of blades may be increased or diminished at will.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the central scaleor centerpiece of the handle, and 2 recessed plates located at each side of the center piece or scale 1 and, forming the compartments into which the blades (indicated at 3) fold. Arranged outside of each blade is a cover 4, having secured to its inner surface a scale 5.

The blade 3 is provided with an opening 6, through which passes a rivet or pin 7, said rivet or pin passing also through openings 7 in the fangs of the blades and also through the bolsters 8 of the covers. The pin thus forms the pivot of the blades and also of the covers. The center piece or scale 1 is provided with a segmental slot 9, extending around the pin 7 as a center and adapted to receive inwardly-projecting studs 10 on the tangs of the blades. The blades are also provided with outwardly-projecting studs 11, which enter segmental grooves 12 in the bolsters 8, whereby the bolsters are adapted to take up the blades and open or close the same. The slot 9 and the grooves12 are each in the form of a semicircle, so that each cover can be turned one-half way around before it acts upon the blade, and in the remaining halfturn of the cover the blade will be moved out ward or inward, according to the direction in which the cover is turned. By forming the slot and grooves as described the blades will be held positively locked in their outward and inward positions. 7

Each cover 4 is provided upon its inner surface, adjacent to its respective scale, with a longitudinal recess 13, in which is mounted to reciprocate a bolt 14. This bolt is moved by means of a name-plate or escutcheonpiece 15, arranged upon the outer surface of the cover and adapted to be moved back and roe -ment with the eye or staple l8.

forth by the pressure of the thumb or fingers. At'one end the boltis' adapted to be projected across the transverse groove 16 in the cover, with which registers a slot 17 in the adjacent scale. This end of the bolt is adapted to enter and engage an eye or staple 18, secured to and projecting laterally from one of. the plates 2, so as to hold the cover locked. The opposite end of the bolt is adapted to enter a notch 19, formed in the periphery of a disk 20, mounted fast upon the inner end of a short transverse shaft 21, which extends beyond the outside of the cover, where it is provided with a milled head 22, by which the disk may be turned for bringing the notch 10 in position'to receive the end of the bolt 14:. The head 22 is provided with an arrow or indicator 23, and one or more graduations or marks 2e are formed on the outer surface of the bolster or cover, with which said arrow or pointer may be made to register for the purpose of bringing the notch 19 into the position referred to.

In operation the disk 20 is turned so as to bring the notch 19 in position to receive the bolt 14. The bolt 14 is then pushed toward the disk, so as to enter said notch, thus moving the opposite end of the bolt out of engag- This unlocks the cover, which may now be turned, as above indicated,for throwing the blade open. After the cover has been turned through the arc of a complete circle it is brought back against the handle and may be locked by reversing the operation just described. The blade is closed in a similar manner. It will thus be seen that the blades may be turned outward or inward without using the nails or fingers, and by reason of the absence of springs the blades are not liable 'to be thrust inward suddenly or to fold accidentally, thereby render ing the fingers and hands liable to injury. There is entire freedom from the liability of the blades to fold or shut up by reason of the locking-bolts, which are in turn themselves locked against reciprocation by the rotary disks.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a knife, a suitable handle, and a blade pivotally connected thereto, in combination with a cover pivotally connected to the handle, a bolt carried by said handle, a suitable eye on the handle with which said bolt may engage, a disk having a notch to engage said bolt, and means for rotating said disk, substantially as described.

2. In a knife, the combination with a suit? able handle, of a pivoted blade, a pivoted cover adapted to en gage said blade for swinging the latter inward or outward, a bolt on the cover adapted to engage an eye on the handle for holding the cover locked, a disk arranged within the cover and having a notch for engaging said bolt, and a milled head arranged outside of the cover and connected fixedly to said disk for rotating it, substantially as described.

3. In a knife, the combination with a suitable handle, of a pivoted blade, a pivoted cover'for actuating said blade, a bolt mounted in said cover for engagement with an eye on e the handle, an escutcheon or name plate for reciprocating said bolt, a notched disk for engaging and locking said bolt, and a milled head arranged outside of the cover for turning said disk, said head being provided with a pointer or indicator adapted to be registered with one or more marks or graduations on the cover, substantially as and for the purpose described.

Intestimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib-' ing witnesses.

JOHN BALL.

lVitnesses:

Tnos. R. OoBURN, J OSEPH T. COBURN. 

